Sudanese President Rejects Outside Trials For War Crimes Suspects

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir says Sudan will not hand over any of its citizens to a foreign court, after the United nations voted to refer Darfur war crimes suspects to the International Criminal Court.

In a speech to the leadership council of the ruling National Congress party, Mr. Bashir said Saturday the Sudanese justice system is competent and honest enough to try any war crimes suspects.

The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution Thursday to refer 51 people accused of crimes against humanity in Sudan's western Darfur region to the court in the Hague.

Hundreds of Sudanese demonstrated in the capital, Khartoum, today to protest the resolution. They called for Sudan to cut diplomatic relations with France for having drafted the resolution.